A better deal for long-term hospital patients on benefits has been hailed by Redcar MP Vera Baird QC.

A better deal for long-term hospital patients on benefits has been hailed by Redcar MP Vera Baird QC.

Currently, patients get benefits cut if they are hospitalised for more than six weeks.

But after pressure from MPs, including Ms Baird, patients on certain benefits will stay on the full rates for 13 weeks.

The Redcar MP helped secure the change after joining three other MPs to lobby Pensions Minister Ian McCartney.

Ms Baird said: "I regularly speak with the Cleveland Pensioners Convention Forum and they told me of the problems the current rule can cause.

"It was clear hardship was being caused when people were at their most vulnerable.

"Financially, it's small beer to make the change, but it will help a lot of people.

"At any one time, 30,000 people were subjected to the six-week limit.

"The increase to 13 weeks will give people and especially pensioners more time to organise their budgets."

Mr McCartney said that while 97pc of people in hospital were not affected, he wanted to do something to "ease the worry and disruption" for the other 3pc.

He said: "People have ongoing fixed commitments, such as housing costs and utility bills, while they are in hospital and we have decided to be more generous.

"This reform is a major boost and will mean more pensioners and sick people in hospital for less than 13 weeks can keep the full amount of the benefits paid to them to help them with the cost of everyday living.

"Those who stay longer than 13 weeks will also benefit from having a longer period of time where these benefits remain unchanged."

The change will coincide with the planned introduction of pension tax credits. Fourteen benefits are affected, including housing and council tax benefit and retirement pensions.